About Mark Burrows
Mark Burrows is a candidate for NC House of Representatives District 119, representing Jackson, Swain and Transylvania counties. A leader well-positioned to champion policies, Burrows seeks stronger economic development opportunities for working families, improvements for the health and well-being of women and families, better public schools, and accountability and transparency of state government.
A dedicated community leader, Burrows has successfully promoted economic and community development in Transylvania County and Western North Carolina (WNC) for over 30 years. His work in local government has focused on economic, planning, and community development initiatives involving both public and private sectors.
Burrows has successfully managed large-scale projects and played a crucial role in recruiting and growing businesses in Transylvania County and Western North Carolina:
- His work has supported hundreds of small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- He has championed affordable housing efforts locally and regionally.
- He is accomplished in organizational leadership, fiscal policy development and analysis, marketing/promotion, and both strategic and long-range planning.
- His vision and leadership earned Transylvania County national and statewide recognition for the Transylvania County 2025 Comprehensive Plan.
Burrows brings a wide range of experiences and connections with WNC communities:
- He has served on regional boards including AdvantageWest, CarolinaWest, the WNC Biotech Committee, Land-of-Sky Regional Council, and the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium.
- He has led community organizations including the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Brevard, Transylvania Economic Development Advisory Board, the Transylvania Partnership, and the Transylvania County Arts Council.
- Collaborating with both elected and community leaders, he created Project Empathy to bring people together to talk about difficult topics facing their communities.
Burrows holds a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wake Forest University. He graduated from the NC Rural Center’s Rural Economic Development Institute and the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. A member of the American Planner’s Association, Burrows is a certified planner (AICP).
Over his career, Burrows has received multiple recognitions including the Governor James Holshouser Professional Development Award from the NC Economic Developers Association in 2006, the Robert Parrish Intergovernmental Relations Award from Land-of-Sky in 2010, and the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award in 2017.
Burrows lives in Brevard with his wife Betsy Burrows, a professor at Brevard College. They have two grown children. He is an avid trail runner and cyclist.